The tales of Rango

Brief background on English Land Law

(Image from CNA Traveller)

English land law has its origins in the feudal system established by William the Conqueror. the said King started standardising England’s feudal rules and compiled a reference for all land and its value in the Domesday Book of 1086.

In this system, all land was held by the Monarch. Estates in land (not ownership), were granted to lords, who in turn parcelled out property to tenants in return for military service or work. The feudal system of land tenure ended after the English Civil War. When the monarchy was restored, Parliament enacted the Tenures Abolition Act 1660 which held that landlord’s obligations of service and military provision were replaced by monetary payments and an annual payment financed by taxation.

Ownership of land

No one can technically “own” the land. Only the Crown can own land. What people commonly refer to as ownership is really an “estate” in land. This can be divided into four basic categories: